When it comes to Olympic uniforms, it’s about more than just looking good. Just like the athletes that wear them, the apparel needs to perform at top speeds as well. At the Olympic level, seconds or even tenth of a seconds can make the difference between a gold and silver medal, or even no medal at all. And clothing can certainly help athletes shed—or add—those precarious seconds.

The line between advantageous and borderline-cheating can be a difficult one to tread, however, because it requires that the new gear cuts down on performance-killing forces like friction or drag, without creating an unfair advantage.

Total - Innovations - Swimsuit - Problem - Beijing

The sum total of these innovations was a swimsuit that made athlete go faster. So what was the problem? They were too good. When they debuted at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 98 percent of all swimming medals and 94 percent of all races won were done so by athletes wearing the LZR racer. Athletes can choose what gear...